Hundreds turn out to support cake shop owner

LAKEWOOD - On Friday, hundreds of supporters flooded the small Masterpiece Cakeshop in Lakewood in support of the store's owner, Jack Phillips.

Phillips made national news in 2012 when he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple, claiming it violated his Christian beliefs. The couple sued him, and the American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint on their behalf.

Last week, administrative law judge Robert Spencer made a ruling on the case. He said Phillips would have to sell gay couples wedding cakes or risk facing penalties and fines.

On Friday, Phillips' supporters fired back by supporting his business and making donations.

Supporter Sharon Taylor says she and her friends have purchased cakes from Phillips for years. She wanted to show her support because she says Americans should have the right to stand by their religious beliefs.

"When we heard that [Peter Boyles] was on the radio today supporting him, we knew we had to come out," she said. "There are a lot of us out here who believe that our freedoms are slowly being taken away and that we need to stand up and protect them when we can."

Other supporters were first time customers.

"I've never been here before. I came today because of this cause. This guy has rights; he has freedoms; he's allowed to do what he wants to do as long as it doesn't hurt other people," Rich Wyatt said. "America's in a difficult position right now, and we're losing rights every day that we can't afford to lose. I'm proud to see Americans coming out today and supporting this guy's rights to make a cake for whoever he wants to make a cake, or not."